I fairly regularly get asked what I do out there on my own. “Don’t you get bored or lonely?”

Er, not really… Not often.

This was on Sunday morning, about 8am, about 15 miles south of Start Point. I’d left Plymouth at 1400 the previous day, headed South for 25 miles miles, then turned left for 25 miles and here I’d just turned North to head for Dartmouth (also 25 miles) and was using the engine to clear some shipping.

The weather was a bit gnarly leaving Plymouth, beating into a top end f5 with a big SW swell, but it eased and we turned east off the wind by nightfal… And then by morning the wind had dropped right away.

Was good to test the new stuff. Bernard was brilliant, and the new AIS was money well spent I think.

However, the engine was a concern . The swell was lifting the engine, including the teak wedge it’s mounted on, up out of the lazarette locker. I thought it was going to come loose! A bit concerning at 6 kts and 30 degrees! I think I’ve figured out a way of fixing this though, and there’s still time.

I forgot to shut the sink seacock and had a bit of a panic when I saw the water overflowing onto the floor. Then I couldn’t find the bilge pump handle, then when I did I realised it should probably have a lanyard, like I’ve put on the washboards. And I should probably carry a spare…

I didn’t close the air vent on the fuel tank either, and I think some moisture got in the tank, as coming into Dartmouth the outboard was running really ragged and wouldn’t idle. Managed to get her on the pontoon ok, and fresh petrol has sorted it.

Got in at 1300. 85 miles covered and 23 hours at sea.

Really useful experience.

Tried the egg timer thing but couldn’t sleep. There was too much shipping.

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